Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After dinner, Zhou Jia walked out of the courtyard. When he reached the front yard, he saw Ji Xiang and said to him, âWhen Ruyi comes, get him to go to Granny Liu Wenâs house to inform her that we will use her services.â
âYes, Master,â Ji Xiang agreed and sent Zhou Jia outside. Zhou Jia arrived at the palace door and walked towards the throne room with a few familiar officials.
After a few local matters were discussed in the court, no one else came forward. Chu Yuhao looked at the officials under the court and was about to leave when Censor Feng stood up. âYour Majesty, Iâm impeaching the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Lord Zhou. Heâs disloyal and unfilial. He didnât ask about his grandmother when she was seriously ill and secretly took office during the mourning period. Heâs unfilial and disloyal to the Imperial Court.â
As he spoke, he looked at Zhou Jia and shouted sternly, âLord Zhou, although you were adopted by your third uncle, Old Madam Zhou is still your biological grandmother. You were indifferent to the old woman being paralyzed in bed. Youâre busy taking over without waiting for her to recover. What right do you have to stand in the royal court?â
Lin Zexu looked at Zhou Jia worriedly. Zhou Jia smiled at him indifferently, and Lin Zexu was relieved.
Chu Yuhao looked at Zhou Jia. âMinister Zhou, what do you think?â
Zhou Jia bowed and said, âYour Majesty, indeed I didnât visit when the old lady was paralyzed in bed. I donât admit that I went to work during the mourning period. The old lady was still alive when I left. When she died, I didnât receive the news on my way to work. Uncle can testify to this. Your Majesty, please allow me to ask Censor Feng a few words.â
Chu Yuhao said, âYes.â
Zhou Jia walked up to Censor Feng and looked at him sharply. He asked firmly, âCensor Feng, did your grandmother get someone to defame your mother and cause her to die unjustly?â
âWhat nonsense are you talking about?â Censor Feng interrupted Zhou Jia sternly. The ministers whispered.
Zhou Jia ignored his question and continued to look at him as he asked, âDid your grandmother force the eldest grandson to be adopted by the uncle who died early? Did she send people to kill you again and again after you were forced to be adopted?â
âCensor Feng, do you think itâs unheard of and that is why your eyes are so wide open? Let me tell you, this is what Iâve experienced personally. This is how my biological grandmother treated me. Itâs already an honor that I didnât kill her personally to avenge her mother. Iâm not afraid to tell you that I wonât mourn for her even in the capital.â
Censor Feng looked at Zhou Jia speechlessly. The officials in the royal court were dumbfounded. Lin Zexu looked at Zhou Jia and nodded in admiration.
Zhou Jia looked at Censor Feng coldly and turned to face the emperor. He bowed and took off his official hat with both hands. âYour Majesty, everything I said is true. Iâm too ashamed to stand in the royal court.â
Chu Yuhao looked at the officials below the hall. âDear ministers, what do you think?â
Lin Zexu went forward and bowed. âYour Majesty, how can Lord Zhou be expected to be filial when his grandmother was so ruthless? Lord Zhou shouldnât take the blame and resign.â
Censor Tang also went forward and said, âYour Majesty, Scholar Lin is right.â
Seeing the emperorâs attitude, the ministers knew what he meant and bowed.
Chu Yuhao looked at Zhou Jia and said, âIn that case, Minister Zhou, keep your official hat and be fined for three months !â
âThank you, Your Majesty.â Zhou Jia kowtowed in gratitude. Chu Yuhao stood up and walked towards the back hall. The ministers dispersed and walked out in groups of twos and threes.
Censor Feng walked alone dejectedly. When he saw Zhou Jia and Lin Zexu walking over happily, he couldnât understand. Everyone wouldnât wash dirty linen in public. How could he dare to expose everything? Why was His Majesty so tolerant of him? He might as well have not punished him.
After Li Yu got up and went to the backyard to train, she had just returned to the courtyard to take a shower when Xing Hua rushed in and said, âMadam, Han San came back and said that he has something to report.â
Han San came so early. What happened? Li Yu said to Xing Hua, âLet him in.â
Xing Hua agreed and left.
Li Yu put on her clothes and went to the reception hall. Han San went forward and bowed to report, âMadam, my former friend went to the manor last night to look for me. He said that two days ago, someone from the Feng family looked for Masterâs cousins and asked about Master and their family. I think the Feng family is going to cause trouble.â
Finding the two idiots in the old residence to ask for information! Li Yu thought for a moment and recalled that Old Master Zhou had said that the old lady had left but he didnât let Zhou Jia come back to mourn. She felt that the Feng family might want to impeach Zhou Jia in the royal court.
âI understand.â Li Yu asked Xing Hua to take a pouch for Han San. âGo and thank your friend. Donât let him make a wasted trip.â
Han San bowed and agreed. âMadam, I think the Feng family might know that I found someone to lure his young master into gambling.â
âDonât bother about that. Youâre a member of the Zhou family now. He wonât dare to deal with you openly.â
âYes, Madam.â Han San left.
Li Yu called Ji Xiang over and told him the news that Han San had brought. She said to him, âGo to the government office and tell Master about the Feng family looking for Zhou Xin and the others. Let him think of a way to deal with it.â
âYes, Madam.â When Ji Xiang arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, Tiezhu said when he saw him, âBrother Xiang, Master was impeached by Censor Feng in the court today. I heard from them that Master refuted Censor Feng until he was almost unconscious in the hall.â
Ji Xiang heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. âSo what if the Feng family is fast? Theyâre still not as powerful as our master.â
Zhou Jia heard their laughter in the public room. He walked to the door and called the two of them into the house. He looked at Ji Xiang. âMadam asked you to come?â
âYes! Madam heard from Han San that the Feng family found those two brothers and asked me to tell you.â Ji Xiang smiled until his eyes were almost closed. âTell me, how did you scold him?â
Zhou Jia smiled and told Ji Xiang about Censor Fengâs impeachment in the royal court. When Ji Xiang heard this, he laughed. âYes, such a person should be taught a lesson!â
Zhou Jia looked at him and smiled. âHurry up and go back and tell Madam the news so that she wonât worry.â
âYes, Master.â Ji Xiang bowed happily and left. He rushed home to tell Li Yu the news.
When Li Yu heard the news that Ji Xiang had brought back, she smiled and said, âThe Feng family members are taking turns looking for trouble.â
Ji Xiang nodded with a smile. âMadam is right. Theyâre just looking for trouble!â
Li Yu smiled and waved her hand. âItâs fine. Go ahead. Iâll go to the garden to take a look.â
Ji Xiang suddenly recalled Zhou Jiaâs instructions. âI still have to find Ruyi to send Granny Liu back!â
Li Yu stopped him and said, âWe delayed her accepting business. Tell Ruyi to buy a few colored cakes and find a reason to reply to her. Say something polite.â
When Ruyi heard Ji Xiangâs words, he went to the cake shop to buy a few colored cakes. He carried them to Madam Liuâs house. When Ruyi arrived, he politely handed over the cakes and apologized with a smile, âAuntie Liu, Iâm sorry. My Madamâs uncle sent a midwife over and delayed your business..â
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